BOOKWORMS visiting Bromsgrove library yesterday were met by closed doors after it was forced to shut following a burglary in which £5,000 worth of computer equipment was stolen.

The library was closed after burglars smashed a panel next to the automatic doors the previous night and stole five computer disk drives.

By the time the caretaker, alerted by the alarm, arrived at around 8.30pm, there were no burglars in sight and staff at the Stratford Road centre were forced to close on Tuesday to give them time to clear up.

More than 30 people had visited the library by 10.30am that morning and had to make do with a book return service which was operating from the fire exit.

Speaking to the Advertiser/Messenger, librarian Tim Marshall said: "As far as I am aware the police discovered some foot prints in the area which could belong to the burglars.

"Whoever it was must have been in and out in about five minutes because when the caretaker arrived they had already gone.

"The public shouldn't be affected any further by the break in, it was just the inconvenience of the library being closed on Tuesday morning."

The library was due to be re-opened on Tuesday afternoon.